Cold Smoke Voodoo Review

The Good

Stiff and aggressive

Cuts through crud and chunder

Deep sidecut

The Bad

Lacks torsional flex

Grabby at slow speeds

Limited availability

THE VERDICT

What started as a small garage operation cutting old boards into splits has earned the praise and following of Southern Colorado riders looking to get themselves on big terrain and hunt down the deepest of pow stashes. Ideal for aggressive riders who like some backbone, the Cold Smoke Voodoo is a stable and predictable deck that wants to charge.

FULL REVIEW

Handling/ResponsivenessEven with a stout powder nose, the Voodoo’s sidecut put testers on edge and held them there for smooth, arcing turns across big open faces and backcountry ridgelines. Once on edge, the board likes to stay there, making it more ideal for carving wide S turns than weaving through tight trees.

FloatWhen testing conditions get variable, boards show their true colors under duress. Not only did the Voodoo feel balanced and stable floating through fresh powder, but it also soared across chunky, tracked-out crud thanks to its early-rise rocker and smooth dampening that curbed chatter like a full-suspension mountain bike floating across rock fields.

VersatilityThere’s no question that the Voodoo can rip all over the entire mountain. With the reliable handling of a 4×4 truck, several testers felt just as confident riding the Voodoo as if it were a solid board. The sturdiness does come with a bit of a weight tax, so it wasn’t the fastest board skinning uphill.

StiffnessAs one of the stiffest boards in the test, riders applauded its power, edge hold, and stability landing cliff drops and mandatory airs in the backcountry. Bigger riders had an easier time loading up the tail and popping over rocks and tree stumps, saving them from a bad time.

Durability/CraftsmanshipRiders who appreciate craftsmanship dig Cold Smoke’s handmade operation in a small factory in Crested Butte, Colorado. Without mass-production, they have a level of quality control that bigger companies can’t match. They refuse to sacrifice durability in their decks and treat all boards with a stone-ground finish, giving you extra bang for your buck.